Recently, I have begun to do rides with a group of guys who ride professionally (老練地). The first day, I finished the ride with great   36 , though I tried hard to keep up with one guy for most the ways. To my   37 , I did a little better the second time.

I decided to work harder to   38 . Yesterday, I   39  so much on my ride that I missed the short route (路線) I usually take;   40 , I stayed on the long route. I had never used this route, so I wasn’t really sure about which   41  I should take. Thankfully, a group of four riders   42 , and I just followed them.

A few minutes later, one of the guys got a flat tire (爆了的輪胎), and, with the help of the others, he had it   43  in about a minute. We all waited there   44  he changed his tire. After we started riding again, I noticed something   45 . The guy at the front would ride   46  for a couple of minutes, then he would move over to the side,   47  his way to the end of the line, and the guy behind him would move into the lead position. The process (過程) would   48  every few minutes. This was a lot easier than riding alone, trying to   49  the first rider. This time I had a great time – and I think it is the   50  I’ve ever gone.

This made me realize how important teamwork is, and the   51  of having a great team. The point is that you don’t have to be at your best   52 . You give it your all for a while, and then you let the guy   53  you do the same. The entire team improves because you don’t have to be the   54  all the time. You get your time to shine, and so does everyone else. You cannot get anywhere – or even make any worthwhile improvement – without a   55 . Who else will stop and help you to change your flat tire?

1.	A．comfort B．carefulness C．difficulty D．bravery

 

2.	A．delight B．disappointment C．surprise D．a(chǎn)mazement

 

3.	A．a(chǎn)djust B．improve C．a(chǎn)pprove D．increase

 

4.	A．turned B．checked C．carried D．focused

 

5.	A．therefore B．otherwise C．instead D．still

 

6.	A．end B．direction C．route D．place

 

7.	A．developed B．formed C．left D．a(chǎn)ppeared

 

8.	A．used B．worked C．changed D．stopped

 

9.	A．if B．since C．while D．before

 

10.	A．natural B．unusual C．simple D．regretful

 

11.	A．suddenly B．quickly C．immediately D．finally

 

12.	A．making B．leading C．getting D．keeping

 

13.	A．show B．pass C．continue D．repeat

 

14.	A．catch up with B．end up with C．put up with D．come up with

 

15.	A．longest B．highest C．biggest D．fastest

 

16.	A．plan B．a(chǎn)im C．value D．effort

 

17.	A．a(chǎn)t a time B．a(chǎn)t the time C．for some time D．a(chǎn)ll the time

 

18.	A．before B．between C．behind D．a(chǎn)bove

 

19.	A．hero B．speaker C．junior D．organizer

 

20.	A．friend B．team C．practice D．rid

 

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.

“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.

Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he’d been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.

“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.

“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.

Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the phone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”

“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.

Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs Higgins finally arrived. She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.

“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.

Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr. Carr?”

The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner. “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again, and I’ll let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’s hand.

Mrs. Higgins thanked the old man for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”

In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.

His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.

This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B. Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

C. Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

D. Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A. annoyed                   B. made less angry

C. convinced                 D. got over

What was the mother’s attitude toward Alfred?

A. She felt disappointed with him.

B. She was very strict with him.

C. She was supportive of him.

D. She was afraid of him.

What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was ________.

A. how angry she was

B. that she didn’t cry

C. that she was able to save him

D. how effectively she handled Mr. Carr

From the last paragraph, we know that Alfred ________.

A. was no longer a youth

B. felt proud of his mother

C. wanted his mother to be happy

D. felt guilty and regretful for his deed

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.
“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.
Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he’d been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.
“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.
“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.
Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the phone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”
“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.
Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs Higgins finally arrived. She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.
“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.
Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr. Carr?”
The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner. “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again, and I’ll let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’s hand.
Mrs. Higgins thanked the old man for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”
In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.
His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.
This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.
【小題1】Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B．Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

C．Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

D．Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

【小題2】 What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A．a(chǎn)nnoyed	B．made less angry
C．convinced	D．got over

【小題3】What was the mother’s attitude toward Alfred?

A．She felt disappointed with him.

B．She was very strict with him.

C．She was supportive of him.

D．She was afraid of him.

【小題4】What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was ________.

A．how angry she was

B．that she didn’t cry

C．that she was able to save him

D．how effectively she handled Mr. Carr

【小題5】 From the last paragraph, we know that Alfred ________.

A．was no longer a youth

B．felt proud of his mother

C．wanted his mother to be happy

D．felt guilty and regretful for his deed

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.
“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.
Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he’d been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.
“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.
“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.
Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the phone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”
“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.
Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs Higgins finally arrived. She was very calm, quiet and friendly.  “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.
“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.
Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr. Carr?”
The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner. “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again, and I’ll let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’s hand.
Mrs. Higgins thanked the old man for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”
In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.
His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.
This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.
【小題1】Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

B．It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

C．Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

D．Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

【小題2】What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A．a(chǎn)nnoyed	B．convinced
C．got over	D．made less angry

【小題3】What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was ______．

A．how angry she was	B．how effectively she handled Mr．Carr
C．that she didn’t cry	D．that she was able to save him

【小題4】What was the mother’s attitude toward Alfred?

A．She was very strict with him．	B．She was supportive of him．
C．She felt disappointed with him．	D．She was afraid of him．

【小題5】From the last paragraph, we know that Alfred ______．

A．was no longer a youth	B．felt proud of his mother
C．felt guilty and regretful for his deed	D．wanted his mother to be happy

The drug store was closing for the night and Alfred Higgins was about to go home when his new boss approached him.
“Empty your pockets please, Alfred,” Sam Carr demanded in a firm voice.
Alfred pretended to be shocked but he knew he’d been caught. From his coat he withdrew a make-up kit, a lipstick and two tubes of toothpaste.
“I’m disappointed in you, Alfred!” said the little gray-haired man.
“Sorry, sir. Please forgive me. It’s the first time I’ve ever done such a thing,” Alfred lied, hoping to gain the old man’s sympathy.
Mr Carr’s brow furrowed as he reached for the phone, “Do you take me for a fool? Let’s see what the police have to say. But first I’ll call your mother and let her know her son is heading to jail.”
“Do whatever you want,” Alfred shot back, trying to sound big. But deep down he felt like a child. He imagined his mother rushing in, eyes burning with anger, maybe in tears. Yet he wanted her to come quickly before Mr. Carr called the police.
Mr. Carr was surprised when Mrs Higgins finally arrived. She was very calm, quiet and friendly. “Is Alfred in trouble?” she asked.
“He’s been stealing from the store,” the old man coolly replied.
Mrs. Higgins put out her hand and touched Mr. Carr’s arm with great gentleness as if she knew just how he felt. She spoke as if she did not want to cause him any more trouble. “What do you want to do, Mr. Carr?”
The woman’s calm and gentle manner disarmed the once-angry store-owner. “I was going to get a cop. But I don’t want to be cruel. Tell your son not to come back here again, and I’ll let it go.” Then he warmly shook Mrs. Higgins’s hand.
Mrs. Higgins thanked the old man for his kindness, then mother and son left. They walked along the street in silence. When they arrived home his mother simply said, “Go to bed, you fool.”
In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen. He felt no shame, only pride in his mother’s actions. “She was smooth!” he thought. He went to the kitchen to tell her how great she was, but was shocked by what he saw.
His mother’s face looked frightened, broken. Not the cool, bright face he saw earlier. Her lips moved nervously. She looked very old. There were tears in her eyes.
This picture of his mother made him want to cry. He felt his youth ending. He saw all the troubles he brought her and the deep lines of worry in her grey face. It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother.
【小題1】Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．It was the first time Alfred had stolen anything.

B．Alfred tried to sound big to hide his fear.

C．Mr. Carr set a trap to catch Alfred stealing.

D．Mr. Carr had planned to forgive Alfred from the beginning.

【小題2】What does the underlined word “disarmed” probably mean?

A．a(chǎn)nnoyed	B．made less angry
C．convinced	D．got over

【小題3】What was the mother’s attitude toward Alfred?

A．She felt disappointed with him.	B．She was very strict with him.
C．She was supportive of him.	D．She was afraid of him.

【小題4】What impressed Alfred most about his mother at the drugstore was ________.

A．how angry she was	B．that she didn’t cry
C．that she was able to save him	D．how effectively she handled Mr. Carr

【小題5】From the last paragraph, we know that Alfred ________.

A．was no longer a youth	B．felt proud of his mother
C．wanted his mother to be happy	D．felt guilty and regretful for his deed